Fumbling with cash, inserting a card, and inputting a PIN is a thing of the past. These days, your clients can pay for services in seconds, all thanks to contactless payments. 

Clients tap their cards on your payment terminal and go, streamlining the checkout process and helping their day run smoothly. You can even give them a QR code to scan so they can pay right from their phone – no point-of-sale (POS) device needed. 

Read on to learn about the benefits of contactless payment for businesses like salons and spas and why you should set up this payment method ASAP. 

What Is Contactless Payment? 

Contactless payment is a payment processing method with minimal physical contact between your POS terminal and your client's credit card, debit card, or smartphone. All the client has to do is tap or hold their card or smartphone near your POS device.

Contactless payment is quick and secure, making checkout easier and less awkward for your clients. This tech-savvy payment option is just as secure as a swipe or insert, and it avoids potential germ transmission. Plus, it's authenticated, which means every transaction uses a unique, encrypted code that changes with each purchase. 

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How Do These Transactions Work? 

So, how does a quick tap get money into your business account? It’s not magic (though it comes close). These payments use near-field communication (NFC) technology. When your client holds their payment method close to the POS device, a secure, wireless data exchange occurs – in other words, the two machines communicate. The POS tells the card how much it needs to charge, and the card checks if that balance is available. If all is well, the payment goes through in a few seconds or less.

For the transaction to work, your client must have a contactless payment-enabled card, like a tap-to-pay debit card or NFC credit card. These cards are just as slim as the ones you’re used to but have powerful inner chips that do the talking when it’s time to tap. Your card may have a contactless symbol (a dot with outer signal waves) that indicates it works with contactless systems. Clients can also tap with the mobile wallet on their smartphone, like Samsung Pay or Apple Pay. 

On your end, the POS device has to be able to accept contactless payments. Pretty much every type does these days, but contact your service provider to make sure. When in doubt, use the GlossGenius Tap & Go Reader, a customizable POS device that lets you accept contactless payments in style, or the GlossGenius Pro Reader, which has all of the features of Tap & Go with a client-facing display and extended battery life. 

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days! 

3 Benefits of Contactless Payment for Salons and Spas  

Whether you work alone or with a team, accepting contactless payments is a game-changer. Here are three benefits of contactless payment to show you why this payment method is the way to go: 

1. Reduces Germ Transmission 

It goes without saying that a spa or salon should be as clean as possible. But research shows that the average credit card carries more germs than a New York City subway pole (ew). With contactless payment, any germs on cards and cash never make it behind the counter, reducing the spread of bacteria and keeping your team and clients safe. 

2. Streamlines the Checkout Process 

Contactless payments speed up checkout so you spend less time at the register. Clients can go about their day with zero hassle, and you can welcome your next appointment on time. This payment method is so convenient that it feels almost effortless, which also boosts customer satisfaction. 

3. Secures Payments

Contactless credit cards are one of the safest ways for customers to pay. The magnetic stripe on swipeable cards is easier for hackers to duplicate, and criminals can easily steal customers’ PINs. But with contactless transactions, there’s nothing to steal.

Each contactless transaction uses advanced encryption. Encryption encodes information, scrambling it so that even if hackers get to it, they can’t see your account information or the client’s card number. This protects everyone involved. 

3 Ways To Accept Contactless Payment  

There are a few ways to accept contactless payments in your spa or salon. Try one of these three convenient options:  

1. Contactless Cards 

Choosing a POS that accepts contactless cards is one of the simplest ways to collect payments. All clients have to do is tap, and payments process in seconds. 

Keep in mind that there’s a chance the transaction won’t work the first time. If a client’s card is dirty, they don’t tap it for long enough, or the system glitches, they might have to try again or insert their card instead. Some banks also require a PIN transaction after a certain number of tap attempts to reduce theft and fraud. So while contactless card payments are usually speedy, you might have to do some occasional troubleshooting.

2. Mobile Wallets 

Mobile wallets let clients pay using their phone’s NFC technology. To make a mobile payment, the client navigates to the wallet on their smartphone and holds the phone up to the POS. The whole process works the same as a contactless card payment.

With 2.8 billion mobile wallet users worldwide and counting, you shouldn’t be surprised when a client whips out their phone to pay. Here are the mobile wallets you're likely to encounter:  

• Apple Pay: Apple Pay is Apple's mobile wallet, available on iPhone 6 and later models. 
• Google Pay: Google Pay, also called GPay, is Google's mobile wallet. It's available for smartphones running Android version 4.4 or later.
• Samsung Pay: This mobile wallet is available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones. To use Samsung Pay, clients swipe up from their home screen instead of opening the mobile wallet app. 
• OneTouch by PayPal: OneTouch is PayPal's mobile wallet for Android, Apple, and Windows smartphones. In March of 2022, PayPal had 429 million active accounts, so it’s safe to say it’s a popular option.

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3. QR Codes 

A QR code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode – that white and black, scannable checkerboard icon you've likely seen before. You scan it with a smartphone camera, and it opens a website. In this case, it opens an online payment portal. 

To use a QR code as a contactless payment option, display the code on a sign at your checkout counter. You can also add the code to your service menu. Then, when a client’s ready, they can scan the code, access your payment page online, and pay for the service using a mobile wallet or enter their credit card info, no contact necessary.  

Using a QR code to collect payment requires zero hardware, meaning you can collect your funds anywhere. To create a QR code for collecting payments, choose a service provider that supports this method. Create an account with the service provider and access its client portal, then select the option to create a QR code for payment. 

Accept Contactless Payments With GlossGenius 

Ready to embrace the speed, cleanliness, and efficiency of contactless payment? GlossGenius makes it easy. We're proud to offer advanced (and good-looking) card readers and POS devices designed for salons and spas that let you accept chip cards, NFC cards, and digital wallets of all kinds. With our hardware, you can provide a professional, portable checkout experience that goes the extra mile for your clients every time.

But GlossGenius doesn’t just help you with payment processing. It lets you run your entire business from one platform, from organizing your schedule and clients to building marketing campaigns and managing your team. 

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days! 

Sign up for a 14-day free trial with GlossGenius to use our all-in-one platform to transform your beauty and wellness business today. 

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This information is provided for general educational purposes only. For legal, cybersecurity or compliance advice specific to your business or situation, please consult a professional.